PREP NOTEBOOK: Ponzio's shot puts are a spectacle

Great Oak’s Shane Atkinson set a school-record and a meet record with a pole vault of 16-0 at the Southwestern League championships. The height now stands at fifth-best in the state.

Instead of raising the bar gradually though, Atkinson immediately targeted Peter Chapman’s Riverside County record of 16-6 ½. He had the height to surpass the former Murrieta Valley standout’s mark, but the bar fell on all three of his pole vault attempts.

“I was originally going to go for 16-4,” said Atkinson, only a junior. “Coach (Ryan Garcia) said just go for the record.”

Brooks runs blazing time in 400

Vista Murrieta’s Deondrae Brooks his first Southwestern League title with a personal best time of 48.18 in the 400-meter dash. Brooks’ mark ranks ninth in the state this year.

“I’m satisfied,” Brooks said. “48 is pretty good for me. I am very happy for it. But I know I can hit a 47. That’s my next goal for right now.”

Urness’ number retired

Lakeside High retired catcher Austen Urness’ number 77 during a pregame ceremony at Friday’s Storm-Inland Empire game at The Diamond.

Urness also threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch.

Urness, a Nebraska commit and two-time all-CIF selection, is hitting .647 with six homers and a 1.176 slugging percentage in 51 at-bats for the Lancers.

Romero breaks record

Michigan shortstop Sierra Romero set a school-record by hammering her 22nd home run of the season during her team’s 16-1 rout of Northwestern Saturday. The Vista Murrieta alumna broke the record as only a freshman. Romero leads the Big Ten Conference in home runs, runs (62), RBI (65) and total bases (140).